The Ace Project: A Unique University Program is Saving Dogs’ Lives By Penny Leigh Sponsored by AKC Family Dog
fearful dogs.
The project launched in the fall of 2021. It was the brainchild of professor Dr. Cheryl Morris, a longtime agility competitor. “I enrolled the first set of students—24 of them—to the Ace Project with the goal of exposing students to fostering shelter dogs, training agility dogs, and other aspects of AKC programs along with service dog training,” Cheryl says. Students across the university enroll in the course for credit. They can enroll to foster a shelter dog, train their own dog, or assist with training classes. The foster dogs primarily come from the Midlands Humane Society (MHS) in Council Bluffs, Iowa. “To date, we have placed 33 dogs out of the program, and none have been returned,” Cheryl says. “Our goal is to get them adopted and not have to return them to the shelter at the end of the semester or have them returned.”
Cheryl L. Morris Once considered too wild to live with, Baron is now a hardworking detection dog supporting police in Ohio. The Labrador Retriever arrived at the shelter and was deemed too crazy to live with. Baron’s constant motion was a challenge even for the college student who fostered him and worked tirelessly to channel his energies into a job. Baron is now a detection dog and a valued Ohio sheriff’s department member. A Collie entered the training class with a very nervous owner. She explained that he was reactive to other dogs. That first night, Hank erupted and lunged at his fellow students. Hank earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen and Novice Tricks title a few months later. He is training in agility. Flurry’s owner left her at a shelter and reported she was biting. Research revealed the Border Collie was spending 20 hours a day in a crate. Flurry is now in a foster home where she has developed enough confidence to play with other dogs and her foster mom. She serves as a demonstration dog in a university lab that teaches how to work with
Baron, Hank, and Flurry have better lives and avoided what could have been a sad ending, thanks to a unique program at Iowa State University (ISU). The Ace Project helps rescue dogs while introducing college students to dog training and dog sports.
Cheryl L. Morris
Learning to Fly: Hank used to lash out at other dogs, but through the Ace Project he earned a tricks and Canine Good Citizen title and is now training in agility.
Good Karma While the program has saved many
Missouri Pet Breeders Association | Page 10
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